I’ve noticed something this year, or rather the lack of something. MINI drivers in the London area are not waving at each other. Forest City MINI Club, get the word out – we wave at each other. We are MINI.
Just because MINI now has tv commercials, that does not mean that our cars are just like every other car out there. We’re still distinct. We get attention. We’re still a community within the larger sedan and minivan driving population.
First thing I discovered, after buying our 2002 MINI in 2004, was everyone waved. People walking down the street turned and waved. Other drivers smiled and waved. I thought I must know a lot more people than I thought I did. So I’d wave back, thinking ‘oh dear who are you?’ Then I realized it was the car.
Responsibility of MINI drivers
That brought another driving responsibility – you have to be nice when you’re driving a MINI. Sometimes, if someone had cut me off or done something stupid, I’d be cursing at them and wanting to make a rude gesture. Then at the next light, I might pull up next to them, still mad, and they’d wave and smile and point to the car and smile more. How can you then give them the finger? You can’t, so you wave and smile back.
But even when the sight of a MINI became more commonplace and passersby stopped waving their arms off at you, MINI drivers still always waved. Might be a full wave, maybe just a forefinger raised off the steering wheel, but it was an acknowledgement.
Until 2007 the closest MINI dealers to London/St. Thomas were in Waterloo and Windsor. Either way, an hour drive. So there weren’t many MINIs around here. Having Grand Touring Auto, the BMW dealer, also open as MINI London was wonderful. It made it easier to get your MINI fixed and your MINI fix. And, as it should have, it increased the number of MINIs on roads around here. Still, MINIs waved at MINIs.
Until this year. I’ve noticed a lot more MINIs this summer and very, very few have waved back at me. Especially in London. In St. Thomas and Aylmer, yes, there is sometimes acknowledgement. But London, no. Come on, people. We drive a car that has clubs and model toys. We drive a car that looks cute in packs. We recognize our fellowship by giving the MINI wave.
Interested in the Forest City MINI Club? Call MINI London for contact information.
Dorothy
29 Jul 2011Wed. July 27th, Stephen Colbert had a lot to say about a Nissan contest to find a wave for Leaf drivers. I can’t post a direct link to it, since the Colbert Report website won’t play video in Canada, but it gives a link for us. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/393271/july-27-2011/nissan-s–leaf-wave–deadline
He read some of the comments on the Leaf website – a few lonely Leaf owners saying “haven’t seen another Leaf on the road” and “suck my balls, hippies” – presumably not a Leaf owner. He also talked about it being fairly ludicrous for a huge corporation to try to create a tradition. I agree on that, but I wonder what kind of car Stephen himself drives. He finds ludicrous the whole idea of waving at other drivers simply because they drive the same car as you. No, it doesn’t happen with every car but there are some kinds where it just feels right. And those are good cars to own. If you ever find yourself owning one of those, Stephen, you’ll know why drivers wave at each other. But, no, the companies cannot create that.
Carrie Anne
20 Jun 2011I bet you had fun at roundabouts! I can’t believe how fast I used to whip round all those narrow bendy roads. I’m loving hubby’s Yaris as it’s a similar kind of steering and size. A good second choice. For now!
Thanks, on mi’ little fledglings. I did spot them after and took some photos, but I thought I had fixated on the robins long enough *giggle* so I didn’t post them.
Dorothy
22 Jun 2011Oh post them! We all want to know how the little birds are doing. Yes, roundabouts! Great things, unless you get in the middle and can’t get out! I’ve seen and liked the Yaris. Almost as cute as Minis 😉
Carrie Anne
16 Jun 2011Oh, that’s sad, Dorothy. My first car was a 1984 Austin Mini, back in England, and I just loved how fellow mini-drivers flashed their lights and waved to one another. As the only Mini I now own is a red model-toy (with a British flag on the roof), I miss that!
Dorothy
16 Jun 2011Hi and thanks Carrie. Maybe it’s time to flash lights too! First time I went to England, we rented a Mini. Oh, it was so much fun, even with trying to remember to stay on the other side of the road. On your blog, I loved the stories of the robin nestlings and them learning to fly. Aaahh!